Cardano (ADA) started 2026 with noticeable strength, as a series of major developments ignited community enthusiasm and pushed expectations toward an exceptional year. According to a report published by U.Today, and based on updates from the Cardanians account on the X platform, Cardano is described as "on fire" 🔥 at the beginning of the year, with five major steps enhancing the positive outlook for 2026.
A Cardanians account tweeted on January 15, 2026, stating: "Cardano has been on fire in 2026 so far. 🔥
• Google Cloud launches staking pool on the testnet
• Leios CIP has been completed
• $NIGHT listed on Coinbase for perpetual futures
• $ADA Listed in a new ETF filing
• Critical new integrations to be announced soon
It will be a great year."
Here are the key details of the five major steps:
1. Progress on Leios CIP: The Cardano Improvement Proposal (CIP) for Leios has completed 83% of its development stages, according to IOG's public tracking of Leios. This includes progress in specifications, simulation, and implementation, marking a crucial step toward significantly improving the network's scalability.
2. Listing of Midnight Perpetual Futures Contracts on Coinbase: On January 15, 2026, perpetual futures contracts for Midnight (symbol $NIGHT) became fully tradable on Coinbase International Exchange and Coinbase Advanced, according to an official announcement from Coinbase Markets. This enhances institutional access and liquidity for Midnight's privacy-focused sidechain.
3. ADA listed in new ETF filings: This week, Cyber Hornet filed an S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the Cyber Hornet S&P Crypto 10 ETF, which includes the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, including Cardano. Additionally, ProShares filed a proposal for the ProShares CoinDesk Crypto 20 ETF, where ADA holds a 3.1% weight in the index. These steps reflect growing institutional interest in ADA.
4. Google Cloud launches staking pool on the testnet: Google Cloud launched a staking pool for Cardano on the preview testnet. This step aligns with Midnight's announcement that Google Cloud will serve as a validator for the network, adding technical credibility and support from a global technology giant.
5. Critical new integrations to be announced soon: Important integrations are expected to be announced shortly, sparking excitement within the community. In a recent update on X, Philip Bon, CEO of Emurgo, indicated that at least two contracts are under review as part of the PENTAD initiative for tier-1 integrations, with more news to come.
Additionally, the Intersect organization submitted a governance proposal to increase memory limits in Plutus per transaction and per block, as part of a two-phase process to reduce barriers to smart contract development while maintaining network performance and security.
Future outlook:
These developments demonstrate strong positive momentum within the Cardano ecosystem since the beginning of 2026, with a focus on expansion, privacy, institutional access, and strategic integrations. The community sees the year as "great," supported by continuous technological progress and growing interest from major players, boosting long-term optimism for ADA's performance.
